Signal lamp



Dec. 27, 1938. DOVER SIGNAL LAMP Filed Sept. 18, 1935 INVENTOR.

Samuel 77Z. Deva ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to signal lamps in general, and more particularly to such lamps as are mounted on vehicles where they are subjected to vibration, such as clearance lamps for trucks and the like, stop and tail lamps, and the like.

It is one of the objects of the present inventionto provide a signal lamp of the above char- ,acter which is simple and economical of construction, and not subjected to many of the drawbacks inherent in similar lamps now on the market. Such lamps are frequently mounted in an exposed position where they are likely to be struck by moving objects, and where there is considerable possibility for the signal lamp accidently to become caught by ropes or the like, that are used for securing objects to the truck. In the prior lamps, this generally meant breakage of the lens and deformation, and perhaps ruination, of the lamp housing. I propose, in my present invention, to overcome this drawback. I accomplish this result by making the lamp housing of rubber, and so constructed that when it is securely mounted in position it may be flexed to a considerable degree out of its normal position. Therefore, if it is struck by a moving object, or caught by a rope or the like, it is merely flexed back to permit the moving object, or the rope or the like, to pass over it, and when that happens the lamp housing flexes back'to its normal position due to its natural resiliency. In a housing of this type there is some danger that the rubber may become deformed if it is flexed out of its normal position and held there for an appreciable length of time. I overcome this ob- J'ection by providing a very thin spring metal plate imbedded in the rubber itself at the point of fiexure. The metal plate will not receive a permanent set, hence it will aid the rubber to return to its normal position.

It is a further object of the present invention to reduce the amount of vibration to which the filament of the lamp bulb is subjected. This resuit is accomplished by providing a substantial body of rubber between the lamp bulb and the point of support of the signal lamp. The rubber tends to dampen the vibrations which would otherwise be transmitted to the filament.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple means for holding the lens in the lamp housing, so arranged as to provide a liquid tight, dust proof seal, thereby preventing the entry of dirt and moisture into the lamp housing and precluding the possibility for the inner lens surface becoming dirty.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a simple means for securing the lamp socket in the lamp housing. This result is accomplished by providing the lamp housing with a circular hole through which the lamp socket is forced, the fit being quite tight to form a dust proof, water proof seal. It is, however, possible to forcethe lamp socket further into the housing, or to retract it therefrom, thus permitting the adjusting of the bulb with respect to 0 the lens.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing form-,

view illustrating the manner whereby the lens/ is held in the housing. v

The lamp of my improved invention is indicated at I, and comprises a lamp housing 2, a lens 3, an electric bulb socket 4, and an electric bulb 5. In Figure 1 the lamp housing is shown mounted on a part of an automobile, at 6. The lamp housing comprises a back portion 1, from which a mounting flange 8 extends rearwardiy, and a circular rim 9 extendsforwardly. The mounting flange 8 is one end of an L shaped support which is an integral part of the back portion and includes a portion 1' that extends radially of the back portion 1. The entire housing, including the mounting flange and rim 9, constitutes one piece of rubber having the desired resiliency, and molded to the shape shown. A circular opening I 0 is formed through the central part of the back portion 1 for receiving the bulb socket 4. Around the hole the back I of the lamp housing is thickened, as indicated at .12, to provide a larger holding surface for the lamp bulb socket.

The lamp bulb socket I is of standard construction and comprises ametal tube having at the forward end thereof suitableslots for forming a bayonet type joint with a pin at the base of the bulb 5. On the interior of the socket there is provided a suitable contact or contacts for the bulb, the circuit connection being established by conductors 15-46. The socket 4 fitsv rather tightly in the hole Ill so that the rubber holds the socket by frictional engagement therewith. The I grip of the rubber on the socket is rather great, to prevent accidental shifting of the socket in the housing, but not so great as to prevent one from' forcing the socket forwardly or rearwardly in the housing. As a result it is possible to force the socket forwardly or rearwardly to provide the desired adjusting of the bulb with respect to the lens. The snug fit between the rubber and the lamp bulb socket forms a liquid tight, dust proof seal, thereby precluding the entry of foreign material into the lamp at the point of entrance of the socket into the housing.

At the juncture of the rim and the surface 20 of the lamp housing there is formed a peripherally extending groove 2| which receives a peripherally extending flange 22 of the lens. The rubber of the rim closely grips the flange 22 and thereby forms a liquid tight, dust proof seal, It is, therefore, impossible for the inner surface of the lens to become dirty. In addition, the rim is provided, at its outer edge, with an inwardly projecting lip 23, extending around the lens 3 and closely embracing the same. This lip assists in holding the lens firmly in position. In addition, if the lens does not happen to have outwardly projecting corrugations at that point the lip also helps in the sealing action. The internal diameter of the rim 9 is slightly less than the external diameter of the engaged portion of the lens, so that the rubber is tensioned by the lens and in turn tightly grips the lens. The lens is thus removably but firmly held in place.

The rim 9 and the back portion 1 form a body or chamber which is very shallow, as may be seen from the drawing. Because of the shallowness ,of this body or chamber the electric light bulb 5 extends beyond the rim 9 so that the light from the bulb is visible to an observer located sideways of the lamp housing as well as to an observer forward of the housing.

An L shaped piece of spring metal 25 is imbedded in the rubber at the flange 8 at the point where the flange merges with the back of the lamp housing. This piece of spring metal is of a thickness of the magnitude of .018 inch.

The lamp housing may be mounted at the desired point on the outside of an automobile, truck, or the like, for which purpose the mounting flange is provided with a series of holes 21. When the lamp is thus mounted it is apparent that the back portion thereof may be flexed to the right or to the left from the position shown in Figure 2. Due to the natural resiliency of the rubber and the spring metal plate 25, the housing will spring back to the position shown in Figure 2 when it is released. If the lamp housing is flexed back, that is, to the left, as seen in Figure 2, and held there for a long period of time, there is no danger that the rubber will take on a permanent set at the .point of flexure, because the spring plate 25 prevents such action. The plate 25 will not take on a permanent set, and it will force the lamp housing back to the position shown in Figure 2.

The lamp of the present invention may be mounted on an exposed part of an automobile or truck. There, it may be struck by other objects, or it may accidently be caught by ropes or the like used for securing objects to the truck. With the ordinary lamp this will result in breakage of the lens and: probably deformation and ruination of the lamp housing. With the lamp of the present invention no harm results because the' back 1 of the housing merely flexes backwardly, thus avoiding the shock that would otherwise result. Furthermore, the portion of the lamp housing between the socket and the mounting flange, being of rubber, acts as a cushion to dampen vibrations to which the bulb 5 would otherwise be subjected. Thus the life of the bulb is prolonged.

The lens in my signal lamp may be of any desired construction, and preferably is of the type which reflects extraneous light therefrom so that it may be clearly visible even though the bulb is extinguished. While I have shown my present invention embodied in a structure including an electric light bulb, it is within the purview of the present invention to omit the bulb entirely, and use a reflecting lens of the type particularly adapted to reflect back extraneous light that strikes it, whereby the lens becomes visible to the driver of an approaching automobile due to reflection of the light from the approaching head lights.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes, I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the. precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric lamp housing comprising a unitary body portion of rubber having a back from which extends, forwardly, a lens receiving rubber rim formed integrally with the back, said rim projecting forward and radially inward of said back, a cup-shaped lens in said rim, said lens having a peripherally extending bead lying in said rim, said lens and said back forming a chamber, a bulb receiving socket in said chamber, said chamber being substantially sealed against the entry of dust thereinto, said bodyportion having a mounting extension projecting therefrom, and said body portion being flexible with respect to the mounting extension, and resilient reinforcing means at the point of flexure between said body portion and said mounting extension.

2. An electric lamp housing comprising a unitary body portion of rubber having a back from which extends, forwardly, a lens receiving rubber rim formed integrally with the back, said rim projecting radially inward of said back, a lens in said rim, said lens and said back forming a chamber, a bulb receiving socket in said chamher, said chamber being substantially sealed against the entry of dust thereinto, said body portion having a mounting extension projecting therefrom, said body portion being flexible with respect to the mounting extension through an angle of 90, and a thin spring metal plate imbedded in the rubber at the point of flexure between the body portion and the mounting extension.

3. An electric lamp housing comprising a shallow body portion of rubber having a substantially flat back from which extends, forwardly, a lens receiving rubber rim formed integrally with the back and overlying the front surface of the back, said back portion having a socket receiving hole therethrough surrounded by the rim, a lamp sock et in said hole, the socket being embraced by the rubber which tightlygrips the same to hold the socket in place, a cup-shaped lens in said rim, the lens being held in place by frictional engagement with said rim, the rubber of the rim being tensioned by the lens and closely embracing the same to form a sealing fit therewith, and resilient means for supporting the housing, said supporting means being integral with the housing and extending radially from said back, the thickness and character of the rubber in said back between the support and the lamp socket being such as to dampen the transmission of vibrations from the support to the lamp socket.

4. A signal apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, and including a body portion of rubber havin a lens holding rim formed integrally therewith and extending forwardly thereof and overlying the front face of the body portion, said body of rubber having an annular groove on the inside of the rim, a lens having a peripherally extending flange, said lens being held by the rim with its flange in the groove, the surface of the rubber at the groove overlying the flange of the lens to form asealing fit around the same, the rubber rim being tensioned by the lens to grip the same firmly and hold it by frictional engagement therewith, the rim having an inwardly extending annular lip spaced from the groove and engaging the lens, there being an annularly extending air pocket around the lens between the lip and the flange.

5. Acombined automobile lamp housing and support comprising a back portion having a lens receiving rim extending around the same forwardly thereof and then projecting radially inwardly to form a peripherally extending groove for'receiving a flange on a cover lens, said back portion andrim forming a shallow body, said back portion having an L shaped support extending radially from one end portion thereof ,and terminating in a 'rearwardly projecting mounting flange, said back, rim, L shaped support and mounting flange comprising a single body of rubber of sufilcient flexibility at the rim to permit flexing of the same for insertion of a lens thereinto, said radially extending support being resillent to permit substantial flexing of the back portion with respect to the mounting flange, and a bulb socket at the center of the back portion.

6. A combined automobile lamp housing and support comprising a back portion having a lens receiving rim extending around the same forwardly thereof and then projecting radially inwardly to form a peripherally extending groove for receiving a flange on a cover lens, said back portion and rim forming a shallow body, said back portion having an L shaped support extending radially from .one end portion thereof and terminating ina rearwardly projecting mountingflange, said back, rim, L shaped support and mounting flange comprising a single body of rubber of sufilcient flexibility at the rim to permit flexing of the same for insertion of a lens thereinto, said radially extending support being resilient to permit substantial flexing of the back portion with respect to the mounting flange, a bulb socket at the center of the back portion and resilient means reenforcing the L shaped support at the point of fiexure thereof.

7. An automobile lamp comprising a body portion of rubber includin a back having a lens receiving rim formed integrally therewith and extending forwardly and then radially inwardly to overlie the front surface of the back and form a narrow groove between the back and the overlying portion of the rim, said rim and the circumferential portion of the back forming a shallow body, a lens having a portion extending in said groove, said rim being tensioned by said'lens and said lensbeing closely embraced by said rim, an electric bulb supported by the rubber body and located in the space between the back and the lens, and a support for said lamp, said support being of rubber integral with the rubber of said back and rim.

8. An electric lamp including a housing having a disc-shaped body portion having means forming a socket for receiving a lamp bulb, a lamp bulb in said socket, a mounting flange extending from the body portion, the body portion and the flange comprising one unitary piece of rubber, the body portion being flexible with respect to the mounting flange, and resilient reenforcing means at the point of fiexure between the body portion and the mounting flange.

9. A vehicle lamp of the character disclose comprising a circular body portion and a flexible supporting att chment bracket extending laterally therefrom; aid body portion and said bracket constituting a unitary integral structure and being formed of material such as rubber capable of deforming under stress and capable of automatic restoration to original form, a source of light carried by said body and supported in a poering said source of light; said supporting bracket having an angularly related attachment section and an embedded metallic reenforcement strip extending from the shank of said bracket into said attachment section.

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